Third part in a series
As talk around the office turns to hills, blisters and gels, you know the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon is just around the corner.
And while thousands of runners prepare with faithful training regimens, the City of Victoria, District of Oak Bay and marathon officials are preparing behind the scenes.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a great event. ItB次元官网网址檚 very well organized,B次元官网网址� said Glen Colwill, president of the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon Society.
B次元官网网址淲e have runners coming in on the Thanksgiving long weekend B次元官网网址� 12,000 to 13,000 folks from Vancouver, Calgary, all the local areas, and in some cases theyB次元官网网址檙e bringing their families with them which also contributes to the welfare of our community. TheyB次元官网网址檙e staying in hotels, eating at restaurants B次元官网网址� it makes for a brilliant weekend.B次元官网网址�
The Victoria police department provides 26 officers to help provide traffic control and safety along the marathon route, while the Oak Bay police department provides one member and eight reserves.
B次元官网网址淭he cost of three of those members is born by VicPD,B次元官网网址� said police spokesperson Const. Mike Russell. The rest is paid for by the city.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a yearly event that happens and we hope people understand that itB次元官网网址檚 just for a couple of hours,B次元官网网址� said Russell. B次元官网网址淲e usually donB次元官网网址檛 have too many issues.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e able to manage with the assistance of (Oak Bay and Saanich) reserves to provide guidance for people that are trying to get through Oak Bay,B次元官网网址� said Oak Bay police Sgt. Ian Craib. B次元官网网址淔rom my perspective itB次元官网网址檚 always been so well organized at the front end, it makes it quite easy.B次元官网网址�
The race, which began 33 years ago as the Royal Victoria Marathon, has grown to be one of the premier athletic events in the country.
The GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon includes an eight-kilometre road race, half-marathon, marathon and Thrifty Foods kids run and marathon, a 1.2 run/walk for children up to age 12.
It also supports fundraising for including KidSport, Times Colonist Raise-a-Reader, the GoodLife Kids Foundation and The Kilee Patchell-Evans Autism Research Group.
B次元官网网址淓ach and every charity involved in the 2012 Charity Pledge Program has been selected based on the work that they do, and the commitment that they have to each and every participant that raises much needed funds locally, provincially and nationally,B次元官网网址� said Cathy Noel, general manager of the GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon.
ItB次元官网网址檚 not only charities that benefit from the race.
Downtown Victoria Business Association general manager Ken Kelly said the economic impact of the marathon is felt region-wide.
B次元官网网址淭hey did an economic impact study two years ago that determined the impact on the city at that time was $7.1 million, which is a pretty substantial increase from the previous (study) they did in 2001 that estimated the impact at that time to be $1.5 million,B次元官网网址� he said.
Colwill pointed out that many of the marathon sponsors are local companies. B次元官网网址淎n event like this brings a lot of money into the community and itB次元官网网址檚 great that we can support those vendors who support us.B次元官网网址�
The marathon itself spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on shirts alone, said Noel.
B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 not about the marathon making money. Everything we make goes back into the event to make it better. To support the volunteers and make sure the participants are getting huge value for what theyB次元官网网址檙e training for and participating in,B次元官网网址� she said.
The marathon takes over the Victoria Convention Centre for three days to host special events and a speaker series, this year featuring Canadian championship marathon runner Lucy Smith, Canadian Sport Centre Pacific Senior physiologist Trent Stellingwerff, 1500-metre runner Hilary Stellingwerff, two-time Olympic medalist, triathlete Simon Whitfield and 2012 bronze medalist, track cyclist Tara Whitten.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a key part of being considered a world-class event,B次元官网网址� said Noel. B次元官网网址淗aving an expo to educate, a speaker series, a place for our sponsors to get their information out and to promote the sport of running, health and wellness.B次元官网网址�
It is also hosting a pre-race Carbo Gala dinner in the Crystal Ballroom of The Fairmont Empress on Saturday (Oct. 6). The speaker series is free and open to the public, tickets for the dinner are $40 and must be purchased in advance.
After a year of planning, race day goes by pretty quickly. The first runners hit the streets near the B.C. Legislature buildings at 6:30 a.m. and the finish line closes at 2 p.m.
B次元官网网址淥ver the years weB次元官网网址檝e not had a lot of problems,B次元官网网址� said Craib. B次元官网网址淐athy Noel is fabulous trying to address all the concerns.B次元官网网址�
Craib assists marathon officials in the planning process, making sure that disruptions to traffic are kept to a minimum.
B次元官网网址淭hey do a significant mail out to all the route affected by it and IB次元官网网址檒l be working that day on social media as well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a Sunday morning of a holiday weekend, usually people are at home anyway. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good day to do it on.B次元官网网址�
Helping the marathon run smoothly is chip timing technology provided by Race Headquarters B次元官网网址� a Coquitlam-based company which specializes in event timing and results processing. They will have seven employees at the event.
B次元官网网址淎round 10,000 chips are being prepared,B次元官网网址� said owner Andre Yelle.
The company began 28 years ago doing manual timing, with employees writing down bib numbers as runners crossed the finish line. B次元官网网址淭hat has evolved with the technology and now we do chip timing. WeB次元官网网址檙e able to give incredibly exact timing and get results quickly as well,B次元官网网址� he said.
The chips are embedded in the runnersB次元官网网址� bibs and are read at the 10-, 21- and 30-kilometre points along the race.
The chip timing also helps racers with future training. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day it can tell an athlete how long a section took and they can compare themselves against other runners in their age category,B次元官网网址� Yelle said.
The bibs are single-use, so runners can walk away at the end of the race and not have to worry about returning the chip. B次元官网网址淲e have a 99.98 (per cent) detection rate. With up to 10,000 people a handful wonB次元官网网址檛 detect and in my experience itB次元官网网址檚 usually because an athlete isnB次元官网网址檛 wearing it according to the directions,B次元官网网址� Yelle said. Bibs should be worn above the hips and below the shoulders, he said.
B次元官网网址淭he marathon creates a list with time parameters,B次元官网网址� said Craib. B次元官网网址淭he chips will tell you when the peak periods are.B次元官网网址�
Police and traffic control use the technology to make sure intersections are manned at the appropriate times and buses can get through in a timely manner.
There are still B次元官网网址渉ot spotsB次元官网网址� where traffic can be an issue. The marathon will affect traffic downtown, in James Bay, Cook Street Village, Beacon Hill Park, Fairfield, Oak Bay and the Uplands. Some small residential roads will also be closed for various periods of time during the event. Residents should expect delays, and be prepared to use alternate routes.
B次元官网网址淚f I get the word, IB次元官网网址檒l contact one of my reserves to go into that location,B次元官网网址� said Craib. B次元官网网址淵ou have to be flexible, not regimented about it.B次元官网网址�
Volunteers, residents, runners and retailers alike are prepared for the Oct. 7 race day and look forward to it as a positive experience.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a good crowd,B次元官网网址� said Russell. B次元官网网址淓verybody is focused on the race or cheering on the folks they came to see. We just make sure they do it safely.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 know everybody is pumped about having the racers in town,B次元官网网址� added Kelly. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a strong weekend for (retailers). ItB次元官网网址檚 always a bumper time.B次元官网网址�
Noel summed the weekend up in one word: amazing.
B次元官网网址淲e go to a lot of other events to promote the marathon and talk to participants who canB次元官网网址檛 believe how supportive people here are. I always say I want to see a 42-kilometre cheering station. (To) have somebody out of every house banging on pots and pans, ringing a cow bell or just shouting B次元官网网址榞o, go, go.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Run volunteers make it all work
It takes around 1,500 volunteers to help support the thousands of racers who take part in GoodLife Fitness Victoria Marathon events.
From preparing race packages prior to the run, to course marshals, gear check, manning the start and finish lines, water stations along the way and providing food at the end of the race B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 all done by volunteers.
B次元官网网址淰ictoria provides a phenomenal response to any big event,B次元官网网址� Colwill said.
B次元官网网址淲e really pride ourselves in our 1,500 volunteers and our organizing committee of about 30 volunteers B次元官网网址� all from this community.B次元官网网址�
Colwill said there is a low turnover rate in Victoria marathon volunteers, which is a huge advantage to organizers.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e gone to many events where they (pay to) bring in an organizing committee. ItB次元官网网址檚 nice that we donB次元官网网址檛 have to do that,B次元官网网址� he said.
The volunteers are broken down into about 30 areas with a volunteer coordinator at the head of each team. B次元官网网址淔or each of us, as coordinators, having a really tight core of people helping out every year B次元官网网址� people that look forward to that one day a year when they come down to volunteer B次元官网网址� it makes all the difference.B次元官网网址�
From high school students handing out water to registered nurses, doctors and paramedics manning the first aid stations, the volunteers have a variety of skills to offer.
B次元官网网址淥ur volunteer co-ordinator Maureen Mitchell-Starkey does a phenomenal job,B次元官网网址� Colwill said. B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 underscore enough how dedicated these people are.B次元官网网址�
editor@oakbaynews.com
Off and running
The 33rd annual Goodlife Fitness Victoria Marathon takes over the Inner Harbour area and parts of Victoria and Oak Bay this Sunday (Oct. 7). HereB次元官网网址檚 the race lineup.
B次元官网网址� 6:30 a.m. B次元官网网址� Marathon early start, Menzies at Kingston.
B次元官网网址� 7:10 a.m. B次元官网网址� 8K Road Race wheelchair and visually impaired start, Belleville between Menzies and Oswego.
B次元官网网址� 7:15 a.m. B次元官网网址� 8K Road Race start, Belleville between Menzies and Oswego.
B次元官网网址� 7:25 a.m. B次元官网网址� Half-Marathon wheelchair and visually impaired start, Menzies at Kingston.
B次元官网网址� 7:30 a.m. B次元官网网址� Half-Marathon start, Menzies at Kingston.
B次元官网网址� 8:40 a.m. B次元官网网址� Marathon wheelchair and visually impaired start, Menzies at Kingston.
B次元官网网址� 8:45 a.m. B次元官网网址� Marathon main start, Menzies at Kingston.
B次元官网网址� 10:15 a.m. B次元官网网址� Thrifty Foods Kids Run and Marathon start, Kingston just off Menzies.
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